title: Validation of a stoma-specific quality of life questionnaire in a sample of patients with colostomy or ileostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine how socio-demographic and clinical variables affect quality of life (QoL) and to assess the validity of a 20-item scale in a sample of Italian subjects with colostomy, ileostomy and multiple stomata.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional multicentre survey was carried out in Italy between 2009 and 2010 in 73 stoma centres coordinated by the University of Padova. Patients aged 18 years old and above with a history of nontemporary stoma were included in the study. The Stoma Care QoL scale was measured and validated using a Rasch model. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were considered in the analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and fifty-one patients were recruited for the study; the mean age was 62 years, 58% were men, 72% had colostomy and 25% ileostomy; approximately 70% of patients had intestinal cancer requiring a stoma, 13% a complication and 10% an inflammatory disease. No significant differences were observed throughout strata in the Stoma Care QoL scale index, except for geographical area, where subjects from south Italy showed a significantly lower index than subjects living in other parts of Italy (P < 0.01). Colostomy and ileostomy patients reported very similar QoL. Cronbach's alpha for the Stoma Care QoL scale was 0.90 (95% CI 0.88-0.92). Rasch analysis supported the viability of the Stoma Care QoL scale questionnaire and showed acceptable goodness-of-fit. Three under-fitted items were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirms the validity of the 20-item Stoma Care QoL scale questionnaire as a research tool for stoma patients but the number of items could be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Public Health and Population Studies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giorato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roveron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turrini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003125:Colostomy / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000523:psychology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Rasch analysis; Stoma; colon cancer; ostomy; quality of life; validation